The National Democratic Front of the Philippines – Eastern Visayas today warned that the 8th Infantry Division’s expression of support for the Daza political dynasty in Northern Samar is similar to the impunity enjoyed by the Ampatuans.

“The media and the people should beware of the 8th ID’s expression of support for the Dazas, because political dynasties and impunity go together, as shown by the third commemoration last 23 November of the Maguindanao massacre linked to the Ampatuans,” said NDFP-EV spokesperson Fr. Santiago Salas.

“The continuing human rights violations under the military’s Oplan Bayanihan and the Dazas’ capacity for political violence have combined to create a climate of impunity in Northern Samar.”

Fr. Salas added that the Dazas, much like the Ampatuans, show how political dynasties and the evils they do remain firmly entrenched in the ruling system.

“For one, the Dazas comprise another political dynasty who like the Ampatuans are suspected of massive corruption but enjoy the patronage of the national government. Moreover, the Dazas, just like the Ampatuans, are cozy with the military and are using so-called ‘force multipliers’ such as the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams (BPATs) meant for ‘counterinsurgency’ as their own private army.”

He added that the Aquino regime is entirely at fault for failing to ban political dynasties as well as end the impunity enjoyed by the military and other state security forces.

“The Dazas will surely fight to retain political power in the 2013 election through guns, goons and gold. They have the backing not only of the Aquino regime’s Liberal Party where Rep. Raul Daza is a key figure affiliated with Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II.

“Worse, their capacity for electoral cheating and violence is strengthened by the military whose Oplan Bayanihan the Dazas are strongly supporting through the BPATs, the surrender campaign against the New People’s Army, and the PAMANA program for covering up human rights violations and militarization in civilian communities.”

The NDFP-EV spokesperson also called on the media and the people to be vigilant against the 8th ID’s seeking to intensify militarization in Northern Samar on the pretext of providing “security” for the Dazas.

“Let us learn from the bitter lessons of the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, especially that political dynasties and their backing by the military will surely lead to impunity. Let us be enlightened by the revolutionary declaration that the Dazas are ‘enemies of the people’ and examine the grim realities of massive corruption, gangsterism and human rights violations in Northern Samar.

“Let us strive for genuine change against the ruling system and hold the Dazas, the military and their overlord the US-Aquino regime accountable.”